What a fun visit we had yesterday to Lattin's Farm in Olympia!!  Springtime is baby animal time and the farm had lots of babies to admire and photograph! I think that my little granddaughter liked the baby goats best - and I have to admit they were super cute!  The littlest ones were fast asleep together under a tree.   The slightly bigger ones were busy chasing each other and playing, and then detouring over to mom for a quick snack! The floppy ears on these little goats were part of their charm. There were also baby bunnies, tiny chicks, and a small pig playing in his enclosure. And besides all the baby animals, there is always the fun of a little spin on the horse - merry-go-round horses that is!!  Ride 'em cowgirl!! All in all, a good day at Lattin's Farm - and somehow we didn't eve... 04/16/2010

It's no wonder that NAR says that, "90% of all buyers used the internet to search." We have seen this first hand, and especially over the last few months. When people relocate to other states, it's a long distance move. These people usually start by researching the city on the Internet. More times than not, they find one of our 1,100+ relocation websites. If they're serious, they'll request help in a possible home purchase. Due to a very large demand, we need a Buyer's Agent in Olympia that is able to assist these prospective home buyers. These families and individuals are wanting assistance from a Realtor, and if you would like to get in contact with them, we need to talk soon. Time is of the essence, and we only need 1 Realtor to be able to contact these people. We NEVER send people t... 04/16/2010

Shopping for loans today is a bit different than in the past. Not only is this true in housing, as banks tighten up credit requirements for mortgages, but in other financing too.  Today even consumers shopping for a car loan are savvy about competitive interest rates for car loans, are aware they need higher down payments, and have higher credit scores when they step into an auto dealership.  As Rob Hendrix, general manager of Carey Motors, in Yakima says, "(Shoppers) don't assume the best-case scenario. They're not counting on everything going perfect." It'a whle new world in loans. Financial institutions are holding people more accountable today than in the past. According to Alicia Stromme, director of lending for Yakima Valley Credit Union ""The lending standards have reverted to wh... 04/14/2010

Open Houses in Olympia WA Update from my previous post...we now have a total of 179 open houses in Olympia WA (and surrounding area) scheduled for the Realtor National Open House Weekend on April 10th and 11th! I would imagine there will be a few more last minute additions before tomorrow morning, but as of 3:30 Friday afternoon there were 179 listed open houses in Olympia WA according to NWMLS. How will you decide which ones to attend? I can help! Fill out the questionnaire below to get a personalized list of open houses in Olympia WA that match up with your needs. To save you some gas money and headaches I can help you make the most of your time so you can enjoy your weekend. I'll review your answers and send you a guide to Open Houses in Olympia WA for the big weekend event. Thanks a... 04/09/2010

Olympia Open Houses - April 10-11 Did you know that this weekend is National Open House Weekend? That means the local helium guy will be hopping busy as Olympia Realtors get geared up with balloons and goodies for the big day. Yes, the aroma of fresh baked cookies and potpourri will likely be wafting through your neighborhood all weekend. The National Open House Weekend event has collected the perfect storm of attention from a print media hungry for advertising revenues, Olympia real estate agents hungry for commissions, and the homebuying public hungry for a great deal to come along before the expiration of homebuyer tax credits later this month. Last year's event was seen as a success but this year is expected to be even bigger. Already over 100 Olympia open houses have been announced... 04/07/2010

Boston Harbor Olympia Homes Boston Harbor (no, not that Boston) is a small waterfront community in Olympia, WA where Dana Passage feeds into Budd Inlet. Perched on the northwest tip of one of Olympia's fingers into the Puget Sound, Boston Harbor is Olympia's version of a cozy beach town. A popular destination for kayakers, boaters, and fishermen, Boston Harbor makes a great place to experience everything Puget Sound has to offer. Boston Harbor is easily accessible by boat or by a short scenic drive from downtown Olympia. View Boston Harbor in a larger map Boston Harbor Olympia Amenities The focal point of Boston Harbor is obviously the waterfront. The community is centered around Boston Harbor Marina, a popular little stop-off for visitors and locals alike. The marina offers fresh seafo... 04/06/2010

Looking for an agent with REO, Bank Owned sales experience. The best service that can be offered would be from a local agent, one that resides and works the county the property is located in. I often see listings with agents from towns over an hour away. They do not even have local phone numbers. Local Realtors are more in touch with the local market, for example Kirkland and Olympia are completely different markets.  Why would you hire an agent that is not close enough to show the home themselves, refill fliers, put up a sign that fell down or do a drive by to see there has not been vandalism?  Even certain neighborhoods are quite different from others in price with-in the same town, how would an out of town agent know this? Need an agent in Thurston County, call me I know this County.... 04/06/2010

On Long Lake Easter Resurection is Followed by Fishing Season (edit/delete) I've got to comment that this year when valentine's day arrived I was prepped with card in hand. A first for my wonderful husband. He's such a good guy. I'm always buried in my real estate work either on a property search for just the right home to tour or writing up a contract for a new buyer, there is always a work task close by. Steve is a dream and a trouper. I gift every Wednesday afternoon to Thurston County Food Bank. Last Wednesday I walk into the sorting room and I found myself pulled back to memories of my grandparents candy store. Every free shelf was lined with Easter Baskets that were being distributed to families with children. Zowie... what a heart tug. I paused to ponder the multitude of stuffed ... 04/05/2010

West Olympia Homes West Olympia homes are popular among people hoping to live close to the center of town, where they can walk or ride the bus anywhere they need to go. The neighborhood is also appealing to those with a taste for classic architecture, with most homes being built prior to 1960. West Olympia homes have a charm and character unmatched by other parts of town. While West Olympia describes a potentially huge area, I am focusing this article on the neighborhood of homes on the hill between Division St. and West Bay. To get to the neighborhood and check out West Olympia homes you can either cross the 4th Ave bridge from downtown Olympia and head up the hill on Harrison Ave or take the Black Lake Blvd exit off Hwy 101 and head NW on Black Lake Blvd. until you hit Harrison Ave. V... 04/02/2010

    The long winter wait is over and Olympia's Farmer's Market is open again!!  (And that's no April Fool's joke!)  At the stroke of 10 AM the market bell was rung signaling time to start buying fresh produce, beautiful tulips, jam, meat, starts for your garden, jewelry, artwork and so much more.   Farmer's Market is always a place to see old friends and it's pretty essential to plan on plenty of time to browse, visit, nibble, and stop to listen to the live music or watch the balloon man create fun balloon animals.   I must not have been the only one who had been eagerly waiting as I saw young children dancing to the music, and smiles on every face - even as we began to realize that the day was actually a bit chilly - OK it was COLD!  Still the market is back, and now every Thursday- Su... 04/01/2010

Olympia Real Estate: Johnson Point Homes   Johnson Point in Olympia, WA is one of the 4 fingers in northern Thurston County reaching out into Puget Sound waters. The peninsula is surrounded by Henderson Inlet on the west and Nisqually Reach on the east. Olympia real estate buyers are drawn to Johnson Point homes because the area is a mixture of ranch style homes on acreage and luxurious waterfront estates. Despite its rural feel,Johnson Point is easily accessible and just a short drive from I-5 at Hawks Prairie or Sleater Kinney Road. The actual point of Johnson Point terminates in a scenic loop, highlighting some of the priciest real estate in Olympia. View Johnson Point in a larger map Much of the appeal of Johnson Point homes comes from the natural northwest beauty of the landscape, ... 03/31/2010

South Capitol Neighborhood in Olympia WA The South Capitol Neighborhood in Olympia WA is located on the south side of the state capitol building and campus just blocks from downtown Olympia. This picturesque neighborhood is rich in history, a National Historic Register District made up of over 400 homes. Driving through the South Capitol Neighborhood you can see a sampling of nearly every form of classic architectural styles. Well kept homes and stately tree-lined streets make the South Capitol Neighborhood in Olympia WA an obvious choice when looking for a place to call home. The South Capitol Neighborhood consists of the residential blocks enclosed by the state capitol grounds on the north, Capitol Lake on the west, and I-5 diagonally on the southeast. View South Capitol Neighborhood ... 03/29/2010

Wondering if the stimulus bill has done any good in Washington State?   According to Governor Chris Gregoire, said that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act kept her state from "falling off a cliff."  State unemployment figures may still hover around 9.5%, but "Without the stimulus dollars Congress invested in Washington State, more of our people would be out of work," Gregoire notes. More than 14,400 jobs were either created or saved in Washington State in the fourth quarter of 2009. This is fewer than previous figures reported for the period ,but earlier figures of 34,500 included teachers' job, which are secure by contract through this school year.  Fewer than 2,000 jobs in the latest figures are education-related, according to a representative from the Governor's office. It ha... 03/28/2010

Many home owners are in financial crisis due to unemployment, victims of past predatory lenders or just over extended. Do not delay in getting real estate advice from an agent that is qualified to understand short sales and foreclosures. Short sales are usually better for your future credit then full foreclosure. Don't let discouragement keep you from positioning yourself for the best resolution to your situation. Call a qualified REALTOR with the SFR (Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource) Certificate today!  360-701-3131, bernie.moats@gmail.com, www.olyrealtor.com 03/28/2010

Where are Home Prices Rising? According to a report from March 19th on CNNMoney.com, Western Washington is a very desirable place to be if you want to live where home prices are rising. Their report features 3 cities in Washington in the top 8 cities with rising home values. Kennewick (3rd), Bremerton (5th), and Tacoma (8th) were all featured as places with forecasted home value increases of at least 3.9%. This comes as welcome news to many residents of the Pacific Northwest as we move into spring. Many people have speculated about the impact the expiring tax credit will have on home sales. If this report holds true, we can look forward to a positive overall trend in home values in 2010. The reasons the experts peg Washington as an area where home prices are rising include strong employ... 03/27/2010

365 Reasons to Love Living in Olympia WA Living in Olympia (the web version, not reality) started as an ongoing mental list. Through the years…just an eyelash short of 30, to be exact…I have accumulated a list of reasons that I love to call Olympia home. Some reasons are pretty general in nature, others have to do with specific people, places, and things that have made Olympia special to me. Launching a Facebook fan page was my way of showing my appreciation for the community that has given me so many great memories. I didn’t anticipate the outpouring of support for the fan page, and yet it didn’t come as a huge surprise. Olympia is a great place to live, and I would be fooling myself to think that I am the only one who loves Living in Olympia. I am extremely grateful for the all the pa... 03/25/2010

Eastside Neighborhood of Olympia, WA Located in the heart of the city, the Eastside Neighborhood of Olympia, WA is a great place to call home. Vibrant colors, active residents, and diversity of styles are some of the things that make living in the Eastside Neighborhood appealing. Many long time Olympia residents are flocking to the neighborhood for its accessibility to downtown. A short walk, bike ride, or bus ride and you find yourself plugged into everything Olympia. Map of the Eastside Neighborhood of Olympia, WA View Eastside Neighborhood of Olympia in a larger map History The Eastside Neighborhood Association website offers a brief history of this historic neighborhood. They write: "Originally separated from downtown Olympia by the waters of a tidal slough, this district was first ... 03/25/2010

According to Northwest Multiple Listing Service, sales of Thurston County homes rose 24 percent over February of last year. This is an encouraging trend to nervous sellers and to would -be sellers debating whether to test the waters. Sales rose to 183 units this February, which was an increase from last February's 147 units. January sales came in at 143 home sales. Homes on the market in the county also increased by five percent last month. New listings rose 37.5 percent to 528 units from 384 units just last year! Many feel the increase in the number of overall and new listings is attributed to home seller realizing that the South Sound housing is not expected to many see many changes in the next 18 months. Buyers realize that they won't benefit by waiting, while sellers do not have to ... 03/24/2010

A Walk in the Park: Tumwater Falls Park As is the case on most sunny days, I put off the more mundane desk tasks and venture out into the city to go exploring. My destination today? Tumwater Falls Park. So, with the thermostat registering at a balmy 68, my assistant daughter (Addy) and I headed out, sunroof open & "Itsy Bitsy Spider" blaring on the speakers. Our first stop was at the upper park and trails at Tumwater Falls Park. Addy was quick to point out the cool boats at the playground, but I assured her there were more exciting things to see down the trail. We snuck past the salmon hatchery with caution (she is still traumatized by the huge salmon that jumped up and splashed her last fall) and walked down to the upper falls at the foot of the Olympia Brewery building. We  I spent a ... 03/24/2010

Olympia's Capital campus includes the Legislative Building which has a very distinctive dome top, visible from a good portion of the city.  It sits perched on a hill overlooking Capital Lake below and the Olympic Mountain Range in the distance out over Budd Inlet (on a clear day at least!).     This domed building was completed in 1928 & it's 287 feet tall.  An imposing presence that tourists and residents alike admire as they play in the lakeside park below, stroll or jog around the lake - or just sit on a park bench to enjoy this beautiful city! 03/23/2010